Bobbin handling arrangement



Dec. 6, 1960 R. M. INGHAM, JR

BOBBIN HANDLING ARRANGEMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 10, 1958INVENTOR INGHAM, J R.

ATTOR N E Y ORT M. BY wmu KM Dec. 6, 1960 R. M. INGHAM, JR 2,96 56BOBBIN HANDLING ARRANGEMENT Filed June 10, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 llc r9- 1 7/ I KZ/ ///775- IQCL 19c *I- FIG. '4-

91 I INVENTOR.

BY WW 5% ATTORNEY ROBERT M. INGHAM JR Dec. 6, 1960 R. M. INGHAM, JR

BOBBIN HANDLING ARRANGEMENT Filed June 10, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 l le lI e 2 .1125 n5 n7 Plle l 9 [El INVENTOR. ROBERT M. l NGHAM,JR.

BY W112i 5% ATTORNEY Dec. 6, 1960 R. M. INGHAM, JR

BOBBIN HANDLING ARRANGEMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 10, 1958INVENTOR. ROBERT M. |NGHAM,JR.

fl/zfi M ATTORNEY BOBBIN HANDLING ARRANGEMENT Robert M. Ingham, .lr.,Spartanburg, S.C., assignor to Deering Millikan Research Corporation,Pendleton, S.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 10, 1958 Ser. No.741,084 38 (Ilaims. (Cl. 57-52) This invention relates to improvedholders, and more particularly to an improved bobbin holding andejecting arrangement which is particularly adapted to overhead donningof bobbins from a carrier onto a spindle, or other suitable receivingdevice.

In the art of dofling and donning bobbins respectively from and ontospindles of a textile spinning frame or the like it is desirable toeliminate as much rnanuallabor as is possible. Accordingly, variouslabor-replacing doffing and donning apparatus have been proposedandtried. In employing various onesof the proposed systemsone major problemis the carrying of bobbins from the location or position to another andthe discharge of the bob bins, as well as the seating thereof, at adesired position as for example from a loading station to the spindles,where the bobbins must be discharged and seated thereon.

Accordingly it is a major feature of this invention to provide a uniquecarrier for bobbins or other desired articles which is particularlyadapted to the holdingand carrying of bobbins from one position toanother and which has the feature of providing resilient gripping of thebobbin end while also providing for positivedischarge or ejection of thebobbin and seating of the bobbin at a desired discharge point, as forinstance onto a spindle of a textile frame.

A further feature is the provision of a unique bobbin holding andejecting arrangement wherein the bobbin is held by a holder and isejected by force exerted axially thereon through one end of the holder.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of an end bobbinholder which is capable of ejecting and seating bobbins of both closedend type and open end type.

Still a further feature of the invention is the provision of endgripping holders having an annulus gripper and a pneumatically effectedejecting means.

Still another feature is the provision of an end holder arrangement forbobbins and other suitable articles, in which two separate sets ofbobbins may be held and separately positively ejected each as a completeset and independently of the other.

Still a further feature of the invention is the provision of a bobbin orother article holding arrangement wherein the bobbins or the like areheld by individual holders and a common pneumatic connection is employedto eject the bobbins as a group substantially simultaneously from theirholders.

Still other objects, features, and attendant advantages will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the followingdetailed description of several embodiments constructed according to theinvention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a longitudinal section view illustrating one end section ofan embodiment constructedaccording to one aspect of the invention,

Figure 2 is a section view illustrating a representative States Patent A2,962,856 Patented Dec. 6, 1960 section of ,a modified embodimentconstructed according to a further aspect of the invention,

Figure 3 illustrates a further modification according to the invention,

Figure 4 illustrates schematically in front elevation anothermodification constructed according to the invention,

Figure 4a is a section view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 4,

Figure 5 is a section view illustrating a further modification,

Figure 6 illustrates still a further modification according to theinvention,

Figure 7 is a schematic illustration illustrating still anothermodification according to the invention,

Figure 8 is a schematic illustration in partial section illustrating afurther modification wherein a plurality of bobbin holders are providedwith a common closed collapsible tube employed for providing ejectionpressure to each individual holder, and l Figures 9, 10, and 11illustrate still further modifications according to the invention,wherein two difierent groups of alternate bobbin holders are mounted ona. common carrier with separate pneumatic connections thereto Broadly,according to one aspect of the invention, a bobbin holder arrangement isprovided for holding one end of a bobbin, preferably in dependingrelation therefrom, and including apneumatic force ejecting connectionbetween a pneumatic conduit and the upper held end of the bobbin. In onegroup of embodiments according to the invention the force is applieddirectly by air pressure exerted on the top or closed end ofsubstantially closed ended bobbins. According ,to another aspect of theinvention as applied to bobbins having open ends the ejecting force ispneumatically appliedthrough the medium of a movable plunger which ismoved by pneumatic pressure exerted thereon either directly by air asillustrated in several of the embodiments or indirectly by the pneumaticexpansion of a flexible tube as illustrated in another of theembodiments.

According to still a further aspect of the invention the preferredembodiment includes annular elastic frictional ring members each ofwhich encompasses and frictionally grips the upper end of a bobbin andhas a pneumatic force connection between the upper end of the holder anda pneumatic conduit, preferably a pneumatic conduit to a plurality ofholders on a common carrier. In this preferred embodiment the mostuniversally applicable and preferable construction for applying anejecting force to the bobbin is through the medium of a movable plungerwhich has a portion thereof operatively connected either directly to orindirectly to theair pressure line or conduit. According to still afurther aspect of the invention a plurality of groups of individualholders for bobbins are actuated by groups through the medium of two ormore conduits which are connected respectively to individual bobbinholders in the two or more corresponding groups of bobbin holders. Thismay be effected by conventional tubing or preferably by employing thecarrier member itself as one or more compartmented pneumatic conduits.These and still other modifications are described in detail in thefollowing detailed description of the various embodiments illustrated inthe figures of the drawings. A I

Referring now in detail to the figures of ,the drawing, in Figure 1 arigid hollow support beam 11 of rectangular cross section is suitablymovably supported for desired lateral and vertical movement as byspaced-apart cables 13, one of which is shown. Suitablymounted, as byscrews 15 and a metal washer 17, in depending rela tion on thelower sideof the support beam 11 is a plu- 3 rality of inverted-cup-shapedend-holders 19 of desired number, as for example corresponding to thenumber of spindles on the side of a spinning, twisting, or frame. Theopen lower end 21 of each end holder 19 has a flared skirt configurationwhich serves to guide the ends of the bobbins into the upper gripping orholding section 25 of the bobbin end holder, or vice versa serves toguide the holder into aligned position for movement down into grippingposition about the bobbin end. The end holders 19 are preferably formedof elastic material such as rubber, neoprene, plastic or the like, inorder to provide an elastic frictional inner gripping surface .25 forthe end of the bobbin BC to be held thereby,

although if desired a more rigid holder body might be employed andprovided with an elastic inner surface therein formed as by an annulusinsert of relatively elastic rubber or the like for frictionallygripping the bobbin end. In the example of Figure l the gripping section25 is formed by one or more, and preferably a plurality of flexibleannular rings 25a of saw-tooth crosssectional configuration whichprovide a smaller resistance to bobbin insertion into the holder 19 thanto removal of the bobbin therefrom. This is advantageous particularly inhandling large numbers of bobbins, in that the force required to beexerted by or on the support in order to seat the bobbin ends withintheir respective holders 19 is considerably reduced. In many instancesthis force is effected substantially solely by the weight of the supportbeam and holder assembly 11, 19, and the reduction in amount of forcerequired for insertion of the bobbins into the holders permits the useof a relatively light support beam assembly.

Positive acting pneumatic ejection of closed-ended bobbins BC isprovided through the medium of a pneumatic force effecting arrangementbetween a source of pneumatic pressure P and the upper end of the holder19, which takes the form of apertures 29, 31 formed respectively in thelower wall of the hollow support beam 11 and the washer 17, and acorrespondingly aligned transverse slit 33 formed in the base 23 of thecup-shaped holder 19. The transverse slit 33 in the illustratedembodiment has an inverted Y-shaped cross-sectional configuration havinglips 33a which are normally in mutual resilient contact, thisconfiguration being provided to the end that the entry of a bobbin intothe holder gripping section 25 will be relatively easily accomplished,the a1r trapped inside the upper end of the holder escaping easilythrough the normally substantially unidirectional valve formed by theslit 33, whereas removal by pulling on the bobbin is opposed not only bythe sawtooth gripper rings 25a, but also by virtue of the greaterresistance to air flow into the partially evacuated chamber which isformed at the upper end of the holder 19 above the bobbin BC upon anyattempt to forcibly or accidentally dislodge the bobbin from the holder.

The closed-ended bobbin BC may facilely be positively e ected and seatedonto a spindle (not shown), or otherwise as may be desired, by opening asuitable control valve V in the pressure supply line, thereby applyingair pressure to the upper closed end BC of the bobbin BC through thecommon air conduit including supply line 37 and the hollow airtightsupport beam 11, and thence through slit valve 33. It will be apparentthat while the slit 33 provides a desired finite resistance to air flowmto the upper end of the holder 19 considerably greater than theresistance to outflow therethrough from the holder 19, it willnevertheless permit air under pressure, such as for instance 1520p.s.i., to pass therethrough from the hollow interior 35 of support beam11 into the upper end of the holder to thereby forcibly eject the bobbinfrom the holder 19.

Operation of this apparatus will be readily apparent from the foregoingdescription, a bobbin, empty or full, being pushed into the uppergripper end of the holder 19 as by manual insertion and pushing of thebobbin, or

by laterally aligning and lowering of the beam 11 so as to bring theholder or holders 19 down onto a respective bobbin or bobbins BC whichare to be picked up. The kinetic energy or the weight of the beamassembly may be employed to securely seat the bobbin ends against theflat upper end 19a of their respective holders for desired vertical andmutually parallel positioning of the laterally spaced-apart bobbins heldby the holders 19 on the beam 11.

The beam 11 may then be raised and moved laterally by the cables 13 andpositioned with the end holder 19 at a desired discharge station, as forinstance a side of a textile frame having spindles thereon, or a belt orreceiving hopper. Thereupon the beam may be lowered to the desiredheight, and the bobbins BC may be vertically discharged from theirholders 19 by opening control valve V to thereby apply pneumaticpressure on the closed upper ends of the bobbins BC through the conduitsystem 37, 11, 29, 31, 33. In using the invention for donning emptybobbins onto the spindles of textile frames, such as spinning frames andthe like, it is particularly advantageous, in that by positioning theholders 19 such that the bobbins held thereby are still a small verticaldistance above their seated positions on the spindle at the point oftheir moving completely free of the friction gripping section 25 (e.g.rings 25a) they will be subjected to a sudden acceleration upon thisrelease due to the sudden decrease in resistance to expansion of thepressurized air acting on the bobbin end, with resultant excellentseating of the bobbin on the spindle.

In Figure 2, there is illustrated an alternative embodiment particularlyadapted to use with either closed-ended bobbins BC as in Figure 1 oropen-ended tube type bobbins B as are commonly employed on spinningframes. In this arrangement a pneumatically actuated plunger 41 isprovided, the plunger 41 having an enlarged end formed as by a disc 43formed thereon or suitably secured thereto, as by screw 45. The enlargedend 43 of the plunger serves to positively engage the open end surface Bof the bobbin and eject and seat it onto a spindle or the like, as maybe desired.

Mounted on the upper end of the disc 43 is a cup-shaped flexible washer47 which fits snugly within a smoothwalled insert liner 49 in thecup-shaped holder 19a and having a relatively low coeflicient offriction, thereby permitting more facile movement of the washer 47 anddisc 43 therein, whereas the rubber bobbin gripping section 51 of theholder 19a provides a surface with relatively high coefiicient offriction for effectively gripping the end of a bobbin inserted therein.

The plunger 41 extends loosely through an oversize bore 53 formed in thebase of liner 49, the cup base 55 and the lower wall of the conduit-beam11a, and extends at its upper end through a rubber bushing 57 whichserves both as a guide for vertical movement of the plunger rod and as aseal against escape of air from the conduit-beam interior. The oversizebore 53 serves the dual purpose of providing a passage for plunger 41and for air communication between the interior of conduit carrier 11aand the chamber 59 formed above washer 47 and disc 43.

The operation of this arrangement is similar to the arrangement ofFigure 1, differing therefrom however in the important respect that airpressure is channeled from the beam conduit interior through the orifice53 into the chamber 59 to thereby move the plunger down and eject andseat the bobbin, this being effected through positive engagement of theenlarged end 43 of the plunger assembly with the held end of the bobbinB.

Referring now to Figure 3 there is shown an embodiment similar to thatin Figure 2 in that a plunger 67, 69 is employed for positively ejectinga retained bobbin under the influence of selectively controlled airpressure from the interior of the hollow support beam 1112. Thisarrangement differs from that of Figure 2 in that the orifice connection63 between the hollow interior of the beam and the upper chamber r6formed above the enlarged lower end 67 of the plunger is disposedto onelateral side of the plunger rod 69. Otherwise the constructionandoperation of this modification is substantially similar to theembodiment of Figure 2.

In Figures 4 and 4a there is illustrated a further modification whereina common longitudinally extending connecting bar 71 connects a pluralityof ejectionplungers 73 for operation by a single one or several spacedapart air cylinders 75. In this particular arrangement two air cylinders75 are operatively connected through a common longitudinal bar 71 to agreater plurality of ejection plungers 73, the air cylinders beingmounted or formed on the top of the support beam 110. Two of theplungers 73a are directly coupled to and actuated by the two aircylinders 75 and have formed at their respective upper ends an enlargedpiston portion 77 which serves to transmit the pneumatic force withinthe respective air cylinder 75 in the form of rectilinear motion, thisrectilinear motion being transmitted .to each of :the other plungers 73bthrough the common connection efiected by the longitudinally connectingbar disposed within the support beam. While return movementof theplungers may be effected in most instances by the insertion of a bobbininto each of the holders 190, it is sometimes advantageous to employ areturn spring 79 as illustrated in this embodiment, this return springarrangement being a compression spring surrounding the plunger rod andacting between the lowerwall 110 of the support beam and an adjustablecollar 81 suitably fixed-to the plunger rod (see Figure 4a). Inoperation, compressed air is supplied through the supply line 83 to theupper interior of the air cylinder or cylinders 75 and the forceeffected thereby is transmitted to each of the plungers 73 through themedium of the directly acted upon plungers 73a and the connecting bar 71which is connected to each of the adjacent vertically movable plungerrods 73b.

The arrangement as. illustrated in Figure 4 also differs :from thepreceding embodiment in that the enlarged lower end 85 of the plungerhas a reduced portion 87 thereof complementary to or slightlysmallerthan the inner peripheral surface of the bobbin B, .an annularshoulder 89 being formed on this enlargedlower end of the plunger forengagement with the upper end surface of the bobbin in order to providethe necessary ejecting force on the bobbin. Thus the reduced portion 87serves as a positioning guide for the bobbinrB during the ejectionand/or seating thereof .by the ejector-holder 19c.

An arrangement similar to that disclosed in Figure 4 is illustrated inFigure 5, this modification differing in the particular holder 19a forretaining the bobbin. In this arrangement a flared annulus 91encompasses and is secured as by bonding to a flatdisc magnet 93 whichis mountedin a suitable manner, as by screws 95, onto the bottom walllld of the support beam. The plunger rod 97 extends through an aperture99 formed in. the lower wall Hal and the magnet-93 into the space withinthe flared annulus 91 below the magnet, and has formed or securedthereon an enlarged disc 101 portionof nonmagnetic material which is ofa diameter suflicient to engage the upper end surface of the bobbinwhich has an end cap B of ferromagnetic material, such as steel. Theoperation of this embodiment is generally similar to that of theembodiment of Figure 4 in the-operation of the plunger assembly 97, 101;however, the flared annulus 91 serves only to guide the bobbin Bintoengagement with the enlar ed discportion. 1010f the plunger, the bobbinbeing retained by themagnetic attraction between the magnet 93 and themetallic end portion B of the bobbin. Ejection'of the-bobbin is effectedby downward movement of the plunger 97, 101 under the influence of airpressure in the air cylinder The arrangement illustrated in Figure 6 issimilar in some respects to that shown inFigure 2, particularly in thatan air orifice 119, 121 is formed between the hollow interior of thesupport beam 11a and the upper chamber 113 of the bobbin holder 19a,this orifice surrounding and being coaxial with the plunger rod 123. Inthis modification however, the orifice is formed in a plug insert 115suitably mounted as by a screw thread connection 117 in the lower wall1161 of the support beam. A plurality of radial passageways 119 connectan axial passageway 121 with the hollow interior of the support beam 11ato effectively form a connecting passageway 119, 121 between the supportbeam interior and the upper chamber 113 formed in the holder. Theplunger rod 123 is enclosed entirely within the holder He and thesupport beam interior and is guided at its upper end by a complementarybore 125 formed ,in the upper end of the plug insert 115. Thisembodiment thus has the advantage over several of the precedingillustrated embodiments in that the plunger rod does not extend throughthe upper wall lle of the hollow support beam, thus eliminating thedifficulty of possible air pressure loss through the connection betweenthe upper wall of the support beam and the upper end of the plunger rod.

In Figure 7 there is illustrated still a further modification wherein anopen channel bar 131 is employed as the support beam, each of the bobbinholders 19 being actuated to eject a bobbin therefrom by an individualair cylinder 133 mounted on the channel bar in alignment with eachrespective bobbin holder. A common supply tube 137 may be employed forsupplying air under pressure to the individual air cylinders forejection of,the bobbins held by the holders 19f. The plunger mayadvantageously be formed of a constant diameter rod 139, which isparticularly advantageous when the holder is of a size adapted to holdthe upper end of a filling bobbin or quill BF, thediameter ofthe upperends of such bobbins being quite small compared to the Warp bobbins Bsuch as are illustrated in Figures 1, 2, etc.

A further modification is illustrated in FigureS, Wherein a commoncollapsible andexpansible tube 141 is em- .ployed for effecting ejectionof the individual plungers mounted on the U-channel support beam 145 bya common spacer support member 1147 having a 'T-shaped or I-shaped crosssection, theholders 193- being suitably secured to said spacer member147 in any suitable ,manner as by bonding, screws, or the like,nottshown.

At each holder position the plunger is disposed for vertical movementwithin a vertical bore 149 formed in the upper end of the holder cup andthe T-shaped spacer support member, the plunger being supported at itsupper end by a flat pressure plate 151 resting on the upper surface ofthe spacer member 147 at the lower end of its travel. Each of the platemembers 151 preferably. has a substantial upper surface area in order toprovide sufficient ejecting force to the individual plungers with aminimum of pressure Within the collapsible tube. The tube, which isclosed at one end (not shown) and is connected at the other end to asuitable pressure source P as through a control valve V, rests upon theflat upper surfaces of the pressure plate members 1151 and is normallydeflated. In the collapsed state of the tube the plungers 143 may beeasily pushed upwardly by the insertion of bobbins into the grippersection of the bobbin holders, this action being effective to move the.prespressure'transmitting plates 151 upwardly out of contact with thespacer support member 147. Upon the opening of the; valve V the flexibletube 141 will be expanded iand tend to assume a circular cross sectionalshape. 'The, crosssectional diameter of thetube 141 is howeverpreferably greater than the vertical distance between the upper wall ofthe U-channel support beam 145 and the pressure transmitting plates 151when in their lowermost position thus preventing full expansion of thetube 141. The expansion of the tube 141 by the air pressure results in avertical pressure being exerted by the tube on both the upper wall ofthe beam and on the plates, the plungers 143 being thereby forceddownwardly to eject the bobbins held by the holders 19g.

The embodiment of Figure 8 is particularly advantageous in that apositive ejection of the bobbin from each of the gripper cup bobbinholders 19g may be effected by axially movable plungers without thenecessity of having a movable member associated with the plunger whichrequires an air seal in order to prevent pressure loss during ejection.The particular illustrated arrangement of this embodiment is furtheradvantageous in that the entire gripper cup assembly may be readilyremoved from and mounted in the inverted U-channel support beam bylongitudinally sliding the T-shaped spacer member on the inwardly turnedlegs 145a of the U-channel member 145. This permits ready assembly anddisassembly of this arrangement. Furthermore, the pneumatic forceapplying means in the form of the collapsible tube 141 is alsoadvantageous in that such is readily removable and interchanged withoutmaterial difiiculties.

In Figures 9-11 there are shown three additional modifications whereintwo groups of bobbin end holders are arranged in alternate sequentialrelation on a single support beam. In each of these embodiments thebobbins held by either of the groups of bobbin holders may be positivelyejected without ejection of the bobbins held by the other group ofbobbin end holders, or as may be desired both groups may besimultaneously actuated to eject their bobbins. The carrier beam in eachof these embodiments is divided into and forms two sealed hollow airconduits, each of which serve to supply substantially air sealedpressure to each of the bobbin holders in a respective one of the twobobbin holder groups, the com partmented beam also serving in theseembodiments as a movable carrier support for the bobbin end holders asin the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1, 2, etc.

In Figure 9 the support beam 11th is divided longitudinally along itslength into two longitudinal air tight compartments 153a, 153b sealedfrom one another by a longitudinally extending separate plate 155 whichextends along the entire length of the carrier support beam. In thisillustrated embodiment the longitudinally extending separator plate 155divides the support beam into two conduits one above the other, thelower compartment conduit 153a being connected by orifices 157 with thebobbin end holders 19 of the first group (which are by way of example ofthe type illustrated in Figure 1), whereas connection between the uppercompartment conduit 153b and the bobbin end holders of the second group19 is eltected through the medium of a plurality of vertical tubes 159passing through the horizontal separator plate 155 and the lowercompartment conduit chamber 153a to the respective valve openings of thebobbin end holders. Separate external supply lines 161 are connectedbetween a suitable source of air pressure P and the respectivecompartment conduits formed by the carrier support beam, a separatevalve V V being connected in each of the supply lines for selectedoperation of the two groups of bobbin end holders.

In Figure the bobbin end holders 1961 19a of the two groups are, by wayof example, of the type illustrated in Figure 2, and the longitudinalseparator plate 163 is vertically disposed to effectively divide thecarrier support beam into two horizontally side by side compartmentconduits 165a, 165b. In this arrangement the bobbin end holders 19a and19:1 of each group are in longitudinal alignment and are verticallymounted under a respective one of the two laterally disposed compartmentconduits a and 165b, the alternate spacing of the two groups of bobbinend holders thereby effecting a staggered relationship between theadjacent bobbin end holders.

In Figure 11 the embodiment is similar to that of Figure 10 in thepositioning of the laterally disposed compartment conduits 171a and 171b within the body of the carrier support beam 11f; however, in thisembodiment the bobbin end holders 19j and 19 are all in longitudinalalignment along the length of the carrier support beam 11 To the endthat this vertical alignment may be effected, while also achieving thedivision of the bobbin end holders into two separate groups which areselectively actuatable, the orifices 173 connecting the interior of thecompartment conduits 171a, 171b with their respective alternate bobbinend holders 19A and 19 are laterally offset on opposite sides of alongitudinal line passing through the axis of the bobbin end holders. Aseparate suitable external supply line and valve (not shown) may besuitably connected between each of the compartment conduits and a sourceof pneumatic pressure as disclosed in the preceding embodiments ofFigures 9 and 10. The bobbin end holder as disclosed in this embodimentdiifers slightly from the embodiment of Figure l in that the air orifice173 connecting between the interior of each gripper cup holder and therespective compartment conduit is an open bore, although it will beapparent that a valve of the type disclosed in Figure 1 might also besuitably employed if desired.

While I have illustrated and described several physical embodimentsaccording to various aspects of my invention it will be readily apparentto those skilled in the art that these embodiments are merelyillustrative in nature and that many further modifications and changesmay be made without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that my invention is notto be limited to the physical embodiments disclosed herein but only bythe scope of the appended claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A bobbin holder arrangement comprising a movable support, an openbottomed downwardly depending peripheral gripper mounted on said supportand having an internal resilient effective friction gripping surfacetherein, a pneumatic conduit, and a pneumatic axialforce-efiiectingconnection from said conduit to said gripper for positively ejectingbobbins from and frictionally held within said internal frictiongripping surface.

2. A bobbin holder arrangement according to claim 1 including aplurality of said grippers spaced apart in a linear path along saidsupport, and a common pneumatic conduit for said grippers.

3. A bobbin holder arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said supportis hollow and forms said common pneumatic conduit.

4. A bobbin holder arrangement comprising a movable support, an openbottomed downwardly depending peripheral gripper mounted on saidsupport, a pneumatic conduit, and pneumatic axial-force-etfectingconnection from said conduit to said gripper for positively ejectingbobbins from said gripper, a plurality of said grippers mounted inspaced-apart relation on said support and a common pneumatic conduit forsaid grippers, said conduit comprising a resilient collapsible andexpansible tube, and said pneumatic aXiaLforce-eifecting-ejectionconnection for each of grippers being a plunger movable within saidgrippers in response to pneumatic expansion of said tube.

. 5. An arrangement according to claim 4 wherein each of said plungersis movable in a direction transverse to said tube and includes a portionin engagement with the exterior surface of said tube.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5 wherein said 9 support is 'aU-channel member having connecting wall and two legs inwardly turned attheir ends, saidplungers being supported by said inwardly turned legsand, spacer means for spacing said plungers and grippers, said conduitbeing disposed within said U-channel member between said connecting Walland said plungers.

7. A bobbin holder arrangement comprising a support, an open-endedannulus having an effective resilient friction-gripping internal surfacefor elfecting support of bobbins solely by frictional grippingtherewithin and being mounted on said support, a pneumatic conduit, anda pneumatic-force-ejection connection between said conduit and 'theinterior of said annulus for exerting an axial force on one end of abobbin having said end thereof removably held within said annulus.

'8. A bobbin holder arrangement according to claim 7 wherein saidannulus includes a substantially cylindrical portion and a flared-endedportion for respectively holding a bobbin end and guiding a bobbin intoholding posi tion.

9. A bobbin holder arrangement comprising a support, an open-endedannulus having a resilient friction-gripping internal surface and beingmounted on said support, a pneumatic conduit, and apneumatic-force-ejection connection between said conduit and theinterior of said annulus for exerting an axial force on one end of abobbin having said end thereof removably held Within said annulus, saidpneumatic-force-ejection connection includes a plunger member movablewithin said annulus in response 'to pneumatic pressure within saidconduit.

10. A bobbin holder arrangement according to claim 9' wherein saidplunger includes a bobbin contacting end having a diameter larger thanthe opening in an open ended bobbin held by said annulus.

11. A bobbin holder arrangement comprising a support, an open-endedannulus having a resilient friction-gripping internal surface and beingmounted on said support, a pneumatic conduit, and apneumatic-force-ejection connection between said conduit and theinterior of said annulus for exerting an axial force on one end of abobbin having said end thereof removably held within said annulus, saidpneumatic-force-ejection connection comprising an air cylinder andpiston in pneumatic con-- nection with said conduit, said pistonincluding a portion thereof movable within said annulus in response topneumatic pressure within said cylinder.

12. An arrangement according to claim 11 wherein said cylinder is formedby a portion of said annulus.

13. A bobbin holder arrangement comprising a support, an open-endedannulus having a resilient friction-gripping. internal surface and beingmounted on said support, a pneumatic conduit, and apneumatic-force-ejection connection between said conduit and theinterior of said annulus for exerting an axial force on one end of a.bobbin having said end thereof removably held within. said annulus, saidpneumatic-force-ejection connection. comprising an air cylinder andpiston in pneumatic connection with said conduit, said piston includinga portion thereof movable within said annulus in response to pneumaticpressure Within said cylinder, said cylinder being: disposed in axiallyspaced relation from said annulus.

14. A bobbin holder arrangement comprising a support, an open-endedannulus having a resilient friction-gripping internal surface and beingmounted on said support, a pneumatic conduit, and apneumatic-force-ejection connection between said conduit and theinterior of said annulus for exerting an axial force on one end of abobbin having said end thereof removably held within said annulus, saidpneumatic-force-ejection connection includes a plunger member movablewithin said annulus in response to pneumatic pressure within saidconduit, and a spring biasing said plunger toward a return position forreturn upon release of the air pressure in said conduit.

15. A bobbin holder arrangement according to claim 7 wherein saidpneumatic-force-ejection connection includes an orifice formed between"said conduit and the interior" of said annulus.

16. An arrangement according to claim 15 and further' including aninverted cup forming said annulus, said orifice being formed in the baseof said cup and includinga valve having less resistance to air flowtherethrough' outwardly from the interior 'of said cup than to the in-'terior of said cup, whereby closed-ended bobbins may be easily seatedwithin said annulus but will require a rela-' tively greater force forremoval therefrom.

17. A bobbin holder arrangement according to claim 7 wherein saidfriction gripping internal surface includes a plurality of elastic ringsformed on the inner surface of said annulus.

18. An arrangement according to claim 17 wherein said rings aresaw-tooth shaped and provide more opposition to removal of a bobbintherefrom than to insertion of a bobbin therein, whereby a relativelysmall. insertion force is required while providing a secure grip on abobbin to beheld.

19. A bobbin holder arrangement comprising acommon support, two groupsof holder members mounted on: said support, two separate pneumaticconduits, each of said conduits being connected respectively to each ofsaid members of a respective one of said groups, and apneumatic-force-efiecting connection between said each of said holdermembers and its respective conduit.

20. A bobbin holder arrangement according to claim 19 wherein saidsupport is hollow and serves as at least one of said conduits.

21. A bobbin holder arrangement according to claim 20 wherein saidsupport is a longitudinally hollow member having a longitudinalpartition therein forming said two separate conduits within saidsupport.

22. An arrangement according to claim 19 further comprising a pneumaticpressure source and a separate control valve for each of said conduits.

23. An arrangement according to claim 19 wherein said holder members ofsaid two groups are disposed in alternate relation along said support.

24. An arrangement according to claim 19 wherein said holder members ofone of said groups each comprises an inverted cup-shaped resilientmember having a flared open end, and a plunger movable within saidcupshaped members in response to air pressure within the respective oneof said conduits for said one group to positively eject a bobbin fromeach of said cup-shaped members in said one group and to positively seatsaid bobbin on a spindle or the like when so desired.

25. An end-gripping bobbin holder comprising a support, means carried bysaid support for removably holding a bobbin, said bobbin holding meansconsisting of a bobbin-end-friction-gripping annulus mounted on saidsupport, and positive-acting ejection means in operative connection withthe interior of said annulus for positively ejecting bobbins therefrom.

26. An end-gripping bobbin holder comprising a support, abobbin-end-gripping annulus mounted on said support, and pneumaticpositive-acting ejection means in operative connection with the interiorof said annulus for positively ejecting bobbins therefrom, saidbobbin-ejector connection including a movable plunger, and means forconnecting said plunger to a source of air pressure for selectiveactuation of said plunger.

27. A bobbin holder arrangement comprising a movable support, an openbottomed downwardly flared guide skirt depending from said support,bobbin holding means disposed interiorly of said skirt, a pneumaticconduit, and :a pneumatic axial-force-eifecting connection from saidconduit to the interior of said skirt for positively ejecting .a bobbinfrom said holding means.

28. An arrangement according to claim 27 wherein tsaid bobbin holdingmeans comprises a friction gripping annulus.

29. An arrangement according to claim 27 wherein said bobbin holdingmeans comprises a magnet.

30. An arrangement according to claim 27 wherein said bobbin holdingmeans comprises a plurality of axially spaced apart friction grippingrings.

31. An arrangement according to claim 27 wherein said connectioncomprises a pneumatically actuated plunger in operative connection withsaid conduit.

32. A bobbin holding arrangement comprising a movable support, a bobbinholding device mounted on said support, a fluid conduit, andfluid-force-ejection connection between said conduit and said bobbinholding device for exerting a force on one end of a bobbin having saidone end thereof removably held by said bobbin holding device, saidfluid-force-ejection connection including a plunger member movable inresponse to fluid pressure within said conduit.

33. An arrangement according to claim 32 wherein said fluid conduit andfluid-force-ejection connection are respectively a'pneumatic conduit anda pneumatic-forceejection connection.

34. A bobbin holder arrangement comprising a common support, two sets ofholder members carried by said support, two separate pneumatic conduits,each of said conduits being operatively connected respectively to eachof said members of a respective one of said sets, and apneumatic-force-eflecting connection at each of said holder members andoperatively connected to its respective conduit.

35. A bobbin holder arrangement comprising a common support, two sets ofholder members carried by said support, two separate fluid conduits,each of said conduits being operatively connected respectively to eachof said members of a respective one of said sets, and afluidforce-eifecting connection at each of said holder members andoperatively connected to its respective conduit.

36. An end-gripping bobbin holder according to claim 25 wherein saidpositive-acting ejection means comprises a plunger movablelongitudinally in said annulus, and means for moving said plunger.

37. A bobbin holder according to claim 36 wherein said annulus is anelastic female annulus.

38. An end-gripping bobbin holder according to claim 25 wherein saidannulus is an elastic female annulus and said positive-acting ejectionmeans comprises a plunger movable longitudinally in said annulus, andmeans for moving said plunger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS926,761 Oliver July 6, 1909 1,593,039 Smith et al. July 20, 19262,527,391 Blais Oct. 2-4, 1950 2,751,746 Busquets et a1. June 26, 19562,763,323 Tingen Sept. 18, 1956 2,840,415 Morris June 24, 1958 FOREIGNPATENTS 638,353 Germany June 18, 1937

